Shane Ross (Dublin South, Independent)
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We have to accept the difficulties we are creating for ourselves here. Obviously, the conflicting legal opinions create a serious difficulty. We have one solicitor and one senior counsel saying completely different things. I think the idea of getting another legal opinion is valuable. Sooner or later, we are going to have to decide which legal opinion we will take notice of. Nobody else can make that decision for us. I support what Deputy McDonald says but I do not think we should create a web of legal opinion that could be used as a method of obstructing our work. We should cut through this pretty quickly to make it easier and to facilitate Mr. Ryan in coming in rather than obstructing him. Legal advice is valuable, but it is not definitive and not something by which we should be ruled. In this case, we are looking to take the advice of the lawyers rather than to carry out our duty as a public accounts committee, which is to get him in and give him a platform.